Tayside jihadist denies orphanage terror claims

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Dundee man says he may sue US Treasury over funding allegations

A Dundee-born Muslim convert last night broke his silence to tell The Courier that he denies allegations made by the US Treasury that his Pakistani orphanage is a front for providing money to extremist terror groups.

Ex- Lawside Academy pupil James McLintock, 52, who changed his name to Yaqoob Mansoor Al-Rashidi, is the president of the Al Rahmah Welfare Organisation (RWO) which the US Treasury has alleged is providing money for al Qaida, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Afghan extremist groups under the guise of helping orphans.

Sanctions imposed by the US Treasury mean McLintock is on the department’s “specially designated global terrorist” list which freezes any property he has within US jurisdiction and bans Americans from doing business with him.

McLintock last night said he categorically denies all allegations made by the US Treasury and is seeking legal action.

Dundee-born Muslim convert James McLintock last night “categorically denied” allegations made by the US Treasury that his Pakistani orphanage is providing money for extremist groups.

Ex-Lawside Academy pupil James McLintock, 52, who changed his name to Yaqoob Mansoor Al-Rashidi, is the president of the Al Rahmah Welfare Organization (RWO) which the US Treasury has alleged is providing money for al Qaida, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Afghan extremist groups under the guise of helping orphans.

Sanctions imposed by the US Treasury mean McLintock is on the department’s “specially designated global terrorist” list which freezes any property he has within US jurisdiction and bans Americans from doing business with him.

McLintock last night told The Courier: “RWO and I categorically deny all accusations made by the US.

“We have not been involved in the funding of terrorist organisations.

“We are currently seeking legal advice and will respond in due course.”

The US Treasury said on Thursday that as early as 2010, McLintock used RWO and the cover of providing stipends to Afghan orphans to finance the Taliban’s militant activities in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

It said he recruited Afghan insurgents to obtain photos of children, Afghan identity documents and mobile phone numbers which were used to “create falsified dossiers” to help “obtain donations for RWO, which were funnelled to support al Qaida”.

However McLintock said his organisation’s help “reaches all those in need crossing possible sectarian, racial and ideological divides”.

In a statement on the RWO website, he said: “Our activities range from the direct support of orphan through regular financial support, the building of orphanages, the digging of wells, the building of mosques, improving education, emergency relief after the Kashmir and Ziarat earthquakes and several floods and many more humanitarian works.

“Al Rahmah has no affiliation with any political organisation and our help reaches all those in need crossing possible sectarian, racial and ideological divides, our activities are being done in all poverty stricken parts in Pakistan.

“We utilise the local population in our construction efforts thus boosting the local economy. We conduct our efforts in concert with the local authorities and local dignitaries because of their understanding of the situation and the needs of their region.

“The donors for our project are mostly native Pakistanis living in the UK who donate through our sister organisations.

“They often feel a strong attachment with the country they left behind and they want to do something for the country they or their parents were born and grew up in.

“We strongly believe that our work is in the best interest of Pakistan and her people.”

The US Treasury said McLintock received about $180,000 from donors in Britain between April 2011 and April 2012 and also received money from charities in the Persian Gulf and the UK.

He also is suspected of smuggling cash to insurgents in Afghanistan and moving parts for improvised explosive devices between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

McLintock is thought to have converted to Islam in his 20s and had become a devout Muslim since then.

He settled in Bradford after fighting with the Mujahideen against the Russians in the 1980s where he lived a “spartan, modest and simple life” with his wife and children.

McLintock was detained in 2009 by Pakistani authorities before being released after several days.

In 2001, he was arrested in the tribal belt while crossing from Afghanistan as US forces hunted terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.

We have not been involved in the funding of terrorist organisations

James McLintock at his Pakistani orphanage (the children’s faces have been concealed). The 52-year-old denies using donations there to support terrorism.

Picture: PA. Lawyer Aamer Anwar has received death threats after calling for the Muslim community in Scotland to show unity in the face of recent extremist attacks.